Check this out!

[chadmace]

So a few months back I just got done rock scaping when that night I noticed a worm in my tank. Looking around online I wasn't sure exactly what it was. I tried grabbing it with tongs but no luck, it got away. I also had 1 known hitchhiker crab still living in my tank. So last night after lights out for about 2 hours I figure I'll look in my tank for the crab. Why not? Haven't looked in my tank after lights out in probably 3 weeks. So I see the crap just eating some algae on a top rock, I think great. Open the tank lid, grab a bucket to put the rock in, and come back and its gone. Then my girlfriend noticed the worm was visible. She grabbed me a dish washing glove, I threw it on, reached in and grabbed ahold of the guy. Slowly pully it from the rock it was twisted around/through until i got it out of the tank and into the bucket.

Here it is being held up. I have a picture with it next to a measuring tape but it didn't turn out so good. In all the worm was 4 Ft long.

Both ends of this worm pretty much look the same. Then again it is not a very thick worm (1/8" diameter or so when it is stretched out.) and I wasn't quite sticking my face all up in its business to find out what it looked like.

Any idea what it is?

 

[Jim Hart]

Inspect it and see if it looks like this.------>http://www.maine.gov/dmr/rm/aquarium/teachers_guide/Bloodworm.jpg

 

[Krish]

That's un-real!!!

 

[mmkeeper]

Lets go fishin'!!!!!

 

[steven11]

That didnt come out of the tank, it came out of you Chad!

 

[james734]

Looks like something you'd see on the Fear Factor of course they would make you eat the darn thing..

 

[chadmace]

I'm just glad it no longer inhabits my tank. Hopefully it didn't bring friends. Now I am down to 1 known hitchhiker living in my tank.

 

[Reeferdude]

Looks like the bottom end is round or oblong. Do you have any close ups?

 

[Jim Hart]

Ill bet he would be a good dietrus eater..

 

[krisfal]

It could be worse!

Check this one out: http://oregonreef.com/sub_worm.htm

The first time I looked at that link I was new to the hobby and had to ask myself "do I really want to do this?" So far all I have encountered is bristle worms, I have some approaching 6-8". Everytime I move a live rock I think, "gotta get me some gloves", I guess once I end up with a handful of bristles I might actually act on that thought!

 

[chadmace]

Yeah, I seen that one. My buddy Steven (steven11) kept saying it was something like that to mess with me. Overall this worm looks pretty helpless. Doesn't appear to have any legs, spines, etc. Just a 4 foot long regular looking worm. I have these pictures in higher resolution. But nothing real close up. I was more excited to get the guy out of my tank than anything. Friend or foe I dont want a 4 foot long worm living in my tank.

 

[chadmace]

Since photobucket wont like images of the resolution i have for these here are a few more pics that have been cropped.

This is the one next to the measuring tape. Its not inline with the tape and i have the thing wrapped around my fingers. In the pictures comes in just under 4 feet. If not wrapped around my finger could easily reach 4 feet even.

Here is a close up in actual resolution of the image taken. I use this since the wall is blue and allows good view of the coloring.

Here is the end. One end was more oblong and thicker. The other end was tail like...tapered off to nothing.

 

[Snowboarda42]

put him in your blender next time you make fish food....

 

[NaH2O]

Hmmm....ribbon worm maybe? Tie A Yellow Ribbon (Worm) Around The Old Reef Rock... by Ronald L. Shimek

 

[Boomer]

I agree with Nikki

 

[chadmace]

When I first seen him I did some looking around and stumbled across the ribbon worm. Thats what gave me the bravery to just grab the thing out wearing gloves instead of trying tongs again.

Guess that answers that. None the less I'm glad the thing isn't in my tank anymore.